The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-03-02


insists that l left my door unlocked, but
after my departure, howe err he found
it aiar, looked carelessly through the
rooms, saw that l was not there, and
locked it. Had he been more thorough
in his search he would doubtless have
saved me very strange experience.
''It was midnight when l returned to
my rooms. The gas was burning dimly in
in the sitting room, but the sleeping room
beyond it was in total darkness. Opening
from the sleeping room was large bath
room, and adjoining this was large
clothes-closet. l locked the door as
usual, turned off the gas, and went to
bed, as frequently did, without strik
ing light in the sleeping or open
ing the doors leading to the bathroom
and closet. | was tired, and fell asleep
immediately.
"How long l slept soundly 1 cannot
tell. am utterly unable to describe the
first sensations l experienced. Dimly,
and afar off, l heard Dick Munson's
voice, speaking as though in terrible
fear or from out an overpowering night
mare.
eat first the sounds came to me like
voice mufIled by the walls of close
room, and conveyed to my mind no dis
tinct form of words. Bot the tone was
one of warning, and told me as plainly
as words could have done that was in
deadly peril of some kind.
"After q time the voice ceased, and l
heard, as plainly as now hear the rum
bling of wheels outside, the rappng of q
private signal known only to Dick and
myself, and used only in the bank when
he desired to attract my attention to any
face or suspicious circumstance in front
of his window. This was repeated sew
eral times. Then 1 heard the voice again,
clear and distinct this time, as though a
door or window had been opened in the
room from which it proceeded.
"There was no mistaking the words
this time. heard them over and over
again, as one hears words in vivid
dreams: Lock the bathroom doorl 1
can't get that slouching figure out of my
mindp With the words came feeling
which cannot describe, but which you
have, doubtless, all experienced-a SEN
sation of immediate personal danger
coupled with physical inability to con-
troll muscle to meet 1T.
"The words and the private signal al
ternated many times, and then heard q
crash--such crash as would follow the
falling of heavy window-sash.
''Absolue silence followed, and witt
the silence came sense of physical de
preston, as though current of elec
tr;city which had wrought my nerves tC
their utmost tension had suddenly beer
withdrawn.
II awoke instantly. When l say
awoke, l mean that / awoke to con
seriousness of the things Immediately
about me, for it is my belief that m.
mental condition previous to that tim
cannot be expressed or described by thu
, word sleep.
81 heard the City Hall clock strikt
one, and tried to sleep again, but coulc
not do so. l could think OF nothing but
the slouching figure had seen early il
the evening on the outer edge of thu
walk; found it impossible to forget thu
mysterious words warning me to loci
the bathroom doorl
II should have got out of bed anC
made tour of the bathroom and closet
only it occurred to me it would be
rather ridiculous thing to do Men whC
pride themselves on a practical turn o.
mind dislike to do ridiculous things
even when alone. Besides, notwith-
standing the effect produced upon me-
by what had heard, l regarded the mat
ter as an unusually clear cut dream, anc
, was net in the least alarmed. The longe
lay awake the more thoroughly did
become convinced that the nervous sus
picions of the paying-teller were alon
responsible for my losing a good hour o
sleep, and resolved to make up for los
time as soon as possible by turning owe
for Bnother nap.
} eff had not, as preliminary step t.
. the resolve so formed, raised myself II
? bed and made a great noise beating VI
and rearranging my pillows, perhaps tn
l most trying portion Of that nights eX
= perience would have been spared me
, be that as it my, the fact remains tina
before had arranged my pillows to m
z liking my attention was diverted fron
my task by three rather starting objects
r ''The first was a darklantern pourin
its round red rays full in my face. Th
y second was an unusually long and III
T naturally bright self-cocl1ing revolver l.
r Gated within SIX inches of my nose. III
third was a particularly villainous face
with thick, black eyebrows running tc
gether above the nose, forming no arc
, to speak of, and producing the generi
o effect of straight, unbroken line eros
It ian tine iower forehead
e ''Was frightened Yes; but scarcel
a think my fright took the usual form.
knew in an instant, as well as l kno
!. now, that it was not my life, nor Il
n trihing amount of money he might fin
k in my room, that the intruder wanted.
l recognized his presence there as part
e well-laid plan to rob the bank. III
re intruders first words confirmed my su
is picions.
IS "'Get up and dress yourself, he sait
m in whisper. 'We want you at the banl
If you value your life, be quick about i
Of and make no noise
ID "The mans arguments were unanswe
y able, and / obeyed.
~ "'You are TO go with me to the bank
he said, holding his weapon close to II
& head as | dressed, and open the vaul
ct The first movement you make to escal
le or call assistance will be your last. \
4 / L 6 1 ,sss4 atr a